Welsh Premeirship News

26 April 2004 11:21am

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It was the battle for relegation that mattered most in the Premier Division and
defeats for Pontypool and Ebbw Vale left them still biting their nails along
with Cardiff, Llanelli and Llandovery for the relegation spot.

Pontypool went down to a home defeat by Newbridge 16-12 with wing Mark Addis
gaining the only try of the match early in the second half, while Ebbw Vale led
16-10 away to Cross Keys at the interval, but then met a seven-try avalanche to
lose 52-30.

Centre Gareth Chapman scored two tries for Keys to take him to 23 for the
season, while Darren Miles kicked 17 points and Vale crashed out despite tries
by Scott Horner, Len Woodard and Andy McLaughlin.

Pontypridd's Wales under-21 centre Lee Thomas converted seven of his club's
eight tries as they won 54-12 at Bedwas with their under-19 flanker Rhys
Shellard marking his first senior start with a brace of tries and Matthew
Nuthall also grabbing two.

Bridgend came back to winning ways as they dismissed Aberavon by 39-35 despite
Richard Morris gaining his 100th try for the losers, while Swansea led
Carmarthen Quins 41-3 at the break, but only just made it 44-33 with Luke
Richards scoring 19 points for Swansea.

Dodgy tattoos, carthorses, Avatar and soft chins are revealed by Wales Sevens players Tom Williams and Sam Cross as they profile the Wales Sevens squad taking part in Hong Kong this weekend in the latest round of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

The youngest member of the Wales Women's squad, Keira Bevan, is hoping to repay the faith shown in her when she starts her first Six Nations game against Italy tomorrow evening in the final round of the championship.

Sevens head coach Gareth Williams is a happy man after drafting in full internationals Rhodri Williams and Adam Warren for the next two rounds of the world series in Hong Kong and Japan, as WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie discovers.